I See Through my LeNs: May 2015

Prague, is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. It is the fifteenth-largest city in the European Union. It is also the historical capital of Bohemia. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava River, the city is home to about 1.24 million people, while its larger urban zone is estimated to have a population of nearly 2 million. The city has a temperate climate, with warm summers and chilly winters. The origin of the name Praha is rather associated with the word prah (that means a 'threshold'), which is a rapid on the river.

The Opera House

Let me walk you through the streets of Prague....

Oh..they have Shakespeare Bookstore....(just like in Paris)..

This vintage car is for hire...

Prague is a haven for photographers (like me)...so photogenic.

Near the Charles Bridge...shopping galore (left and right)..

The CHARLES BRIDGE

The Charles Bridge is a famous historic bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of the 15th century. The bridge replaced the old Judith Bridge built 1158–1172 that had been badly damaged by a flood in 1342. This new bridge was originally called the Stone Bridge (Kamenný most) or the Prague Bridge (Pražský most) but has been the "Charles Bridge" since 1870. As the only means of crossing the river Vltava (Moldau) until 1841, the Charles Bridge was the most important connection between Prague Castle and the city's Old Town and adjacent areas. This "solid-land" connection made Prague important as a trade route between Eastern and Western Europe.

St. John of Matha, St. Felix of Valois and St. Ivan

This part becomes shiny because people keep touching them.

One of the most famous statues is of St. John Nepomuk whose tomb is in St. Vitus Cathedral. It is the oldest statue on the bridge dating from 1683.

St John of Nepomuk

Crucifixion Statue

Statue of Pieta

They say that it's a Prague ritual to touch the cross and the stars with your left hand and make a wish.

According to legend a chivalrous character named Bruncvík set out to find a live lion for his coat of arms. On his journey he found an invincible sword.

Prague Castle

is the official residence and office of the President of the Czech Republic. Located in the Hradčany district of Prague and dating back to the ninth century, the castle has been a seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia. The Bohemian Crown Jewels are kept within a hidden room inside it. The Guinness Book of Records lists Prague Castle as the largest ancient castle in the world. It occupies an area of almost 70,000 m², at about 570 meters in length and an average of about 130 meters wide.

Entrance to the Castle..

A great place for photo-ops..

The courtyard...

St. Vitus Cathedral

is the largest and the most important temple in Prague. Apart from religious services the coronations of Czech kings and queens also took place in here. The cathedral is a place of interment of remains of provincial patron saints, sovereigns, noblemen and archbishops.

Inside the cathedral..

One of the many stained windows of the cathedral.

I am so mesmerized with the statues way on top of the castle..

Gargoyle of St.Vitus's Cathedral

One of the churches in the castle compound is the Basilica of St. George.

It is the best preserved Romanesque church in Czech Republic.

Eastern facade of the cathedral...

On with my walk....'towns' surrounding the castle..

oops...souvenirs...

garden

A video of the castle..

difficult to look for restrooms..just be alert

both the entrance and the exit..

One last glimpse of the cathedral..

then back to my bus stop..

Astronomical Clock

The Prague astronomical clock, or Prague orloj is a medieval astronomical clock located in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still working.

Zodiacal Ring

Inside the large black outer circle lies another movable circle marked with the signs of the zodiac which indicates the location of the Sun on the ecliptic. The signs are shown in anticlockwise order.

In the photograph accompanying this section,

the Sun is currently moving anticlockwise from Cancer into Leo..

and so on...sorry, I am no expert...google is the best source of this clock.

The Orloj is mounted on the southern wall of Old Town City Hall in the Old Town Square. The clock mechanism itself is composed of three main components: the astronomical dial, representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky and displaying various astronomical details; "The Walk of the Apostles", a clockwork hourly show of figures of the Apostles and other moving sculptures—notably a figure of Death (represented by a skeleton) striking the time; and a calendar dial with medallions representing the months. According to local legend, the city will suffer if the clock is neglected and its good operation is placed in jeopardy and a skeleton, mounted on the clock, was supposed nod his head in confirmation. Based on the legend, the only hope was represented by a boy born in the New Year´s night

We are now listening the strike of 6:00..

Streets of Prague --some more --

bread rolled in a cylinder...choices of nutella, peanut butter, or sugar for added stuff..

They use charcoal to cook the dough..

cost ranges between 5-7 euros each, depends on which area you are...

Oh look...THAI MASSAGE...

this guy advertises Thai Massage... (he is supposed to be a mascot)

Cool facade of HARD ROCK HOTEL

Andy Warhol...wax statue

Pork Belly..

Segways for rent..

Street Performers...

This guy is from Australia...he does not really play the HAND PAN....but

he finds it fun...he's playing it freestyle. He is on vacation from the navy.

Listen to the hypnotic sound of the HAND PAN/Basin

Enjoy their music and talents...

Drinking anytime of the day..

A mall!!

There is calm in chaos..

My essential mode of transportation...

Just wishing...

Hmm...hovering and hovering..

On 'personal note'

how 'bout including me and my travel buddies here...

Mirror, mirror on the wall...Just take the best selfie for the ball...

The T. & A. Baťa Shoe Company was founded in 1894 in Zlín, Moravia, (then Austro-Hungarian Empire, today the Czech Republic) by Tomáš Baťa, his brother Antonín and his sister Anna, whose family had been cobblers for generations. The company employed 10 full-time employees with a fixed work schedule and a regular weekly wage, a rare find in its time. I like the store...it sells all leather goods.